Used Sports Equipment

matt · 21st January, 2014 · 3:01pm

It is no joke that sports equipment can be highly expensive. And when a family has several kids in several different sports, it can sure seem like that’s all your money goes towards. Trying to find ways to save money is important these days, so that’s why the used sporting equipment has become so popular in recent years. But there are some things to keep in mind when purchasing used sporting goods and fitness equipment.

Brand name

When it comes to sporting and fitness equipment, buying brand name will usually save you money in the long run. Buying cheaper equipment usually results in a lower quality item that is cheaply made and more likely to break down than a well-known brand.

Is it a good deal?

If you’re buying used equipment to save money, it’s important to know if what you’re getting is actually a good deal. This may be hard to know unless you have something exact to compare what you’re planning to purchase with, and if it’s used there’s nothing exactly like it out there. You’ll have to judge for yourself what type of shape the equipment is in, then go online to research the prices that others are selling this item for. Used merchandise can sometimes have negotiable prices, so keep in mind you can always make an offer if you feel the seller would be open to that.

Safe and sound

While purchasing items second-hand may save you money, you need to be careful about choosing which items to buy used and which you should probably just shell out the money for new. Most used sporting equipment is perfectly fine, and will perform just as well for you as it did for its previous owners. However, when it comes to safety and protective items, it really is better safe than sorry.

Helmets

Because growing kids get bigger, most sporting equipment and clothing will need replaced many times over the course of their sports career. Helmets are not immune to being grown out of. This particular piece of equipment is extremely important to make sure its structural integrity is maintained, and that’s not always something that is visible to the naked eye. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your child’s head, after all that is why you have them wear helmets in the first place, right? So, don’t gamble on a used helmet. It’s really not worth the money you would save if something goes wrong with the helmet and your child gets injured.

Footwear

If you are able to personally handle and inspect used footwear before buying it, then you may be okay with purchasing used. However, if you are purchasing online, buyer beware. Especially when purchasing shoes, cleats and ice skates. Support is the first thing to decline with daily wear and tear, so don’t purchase used footwear if it shows significant signs of wear. Eyeballing and handling used footwear is the most important thing you can do when factoring whether to buy used or not. Along with diminished support, you should also check for the outer shell on hockey skates since that will be important in offering protection against pucks, sticks and other skate blades.

Pads

If pads have lost some of their protective cushion, or the outer shell has been cracked, chances are they don’t truly offer much protection anymore. Remember that pads take a pretty good beating in contact sports like football, therefore it may be a good idea to invest in new, cushy equipment.

Softball/Baseball Bats

Bats are more expensive than you may think, but trying to save money may cost you lost performance. Bats lose their effectiveness over time and usage, so make sure you inspect them for dents, bends or other damage before purchasing one used.

Used sports equipment storefronts and online sales have gotten very popular lately for a reason: you can get some really good deals. Just educate yourself before you buy and keep in mind that money is not as important as personal safety.